BY BTL STAFF
ARTS.BLACK was founded in 2014 by editors Taylor Renee of Detroit and Jessica Lynne of Brooklyn to support, uplift and cultivate a new generation of black art critics.
ARTS.BLACK is a journal of art criticism from black perspectives predicated on the belief that art criticism should be an accessible dialogue – a tool through which we question, celebrate, and talk back to the global world of contemporary art. ARTS.BLACK was founded in 2014 by editors Taylor Renee of Detroit and Jessica Lynne of Brooklyn to support, uplift and cultivate a new generation of black art critics.
ARTS.BLACK will offer a thematic collection of new, used and rare books on art and labor during a book fair from 1-5 p.m. on Aug. 26 at Good Lab, 14720 E. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit.
The book fair in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood will serve as a fundraiser for the publication to gather matching funds for their Knight Grant and will feature catalogs, contemporary zines, history books pertaining to art and labor.
"Labor and ingenuity is at the crux of most artistic and creative practices here in Detroit," said Renee. "Using literature and other writings as a tool, I see this fair as an opportunity to talk about exchange, and fellowship around themes that are central to Detroit art practices."
The funds raised will help support the publications upcoming writing series, which will include essays, interviews and reviews on art making in the city, informed by its history, politics, race and class. The series will include contributions from Renee and Lynne, as well as other black writers in the city.
The Knight grant and matching support will allow for the publication to pay its writers, cover publication costs and continue operations.
"In the spirit of our personal and collaborative practice, we are thrilled to use this event as a site of knowledge exchange and friendship, support and dialogue," said Lynne. Prior to the event, ARTS.BLACK will be collecting book donations to sell at the book fair.
If you are interested in donating books on art and or labor to ARTS.BLACK, please send an email to [email protected].
ARTS.BLACK is the 2016 recipient of the John S. and James L. Knight Arts Challenge Award and is a sponsored project of Allied Media Projects.
